As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalizes guidelines for the restaurant industry to voluntarily reduce sodium levels on menus, some limited-service restaurants are already using a “stealth health” approach to sodium removal, choosing to keep the effort mostly under wraps.
Boston Market is...

Panera Bread took a step into the future with the rollout of $42 million worth of ordering technology, dubbed “Panera 2.0.” The chain expects to better its customer experience inside and out with iPad ordering kiosks, mobile and online ordering interfaces, and a feature that lets guests order at...

There’s no question that having a great online reputation gives you the stamp of approval you need, especially when 95 percent of consumers are turning to the Internet to find local businesses. With 132 million average monthly unique visitors turning to Yelp to make a buying decision and 57 million...

Each month, QSR singles out the quick-service and fast-casual brands we think will make a splash in the industry. Sometimes we’re right, and sometimes we’re… well, not. So which Ones to Watch brands are still on fire, and which ones have had their growth hopes doused? Here’s a look back at 15 Ones...

For upstart quick-service restaurants considering the move to franchising, the path can precipitate a major shift in business model and operations. Beyond the economic investment in franchising, experts say, operators must ensure their brand will consistently deliver quality across all locations.
“...

Built in 1881, the log cabin housing the Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que location in Breckenridge, Colorado, has seen its fair share of action.
“As I understand it, it was the assayer’s cabin for the town,” says John Rediker, a partner at the Breckenridge unit. Precious metals extracted from the mines...

Saving for retirement and other financial milestones is an important objective for most people, including employees in the quick-serve industry.
The biggest coffee chain in the U.S. is making it easier for its workers to reach those monetary goals. In 1991, after Seattle-based Starbucks extended...

The new Krispy Kreme Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Java Chip Doughnuts are moist, creamy, and loaded with chocolate chips. Available now through March 22 at participating Krispy Kreme shops throughout the U.S. and Canada while supplies last.

Juice It Up!, a premier raw juice bar and hand-crafted smoothie franchise, has reported that 2014 is the year to beat as they tackle 2015, the company’s 20th anniversary year. The company reported a fourth quarter same store sales increase of 16 percent compared to Q4 the year prior. ...

With Valentine's Day approaching, Dunkin’ Donuts celebrating the season with a set of social media promotions, including a salute to winter Iced Coffee drinkers and an opportunity for fans to send sweet tweets to their sweetheart. Both programs offer the chance to win a round-trip travel...

Burger 21, announced today it has provided more than $127,000 in contributions through its “B Charitable” initiative since its inception. The brand donates 10 percent of its restaurants’ sales to schools and local charities on the 21st of each month to support the communities in which...

The Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation has awarded $4,000 to three local charities—Hope Center of Waukesha, the Severson Sisters – Super Girl Program of Menomonee Falls, and the Friends of Saint Catherine Residence of Milwaukee.

HuHot Mongolian Grill, a full-service restaurant chain based in Montana, is making its foray into the fast-casual industry with NuHu Mongolian Express. The company believes that the new restaurant, which will open in downtown Denver on February 12, is perfectly suited to satisfy Millennials’...

While the fast-casual category continues to be the fastest-growing industry sector, the road in 2015 will be bumpy. We will see constant change and challenges around every corner. For industry leaders, there are issues that will keep even the most seasoned executive awake at night.
Here is my top...

Though U.S. consumption is well below other proteins today, seafood will likely be an increasingly important part of the American diet in the years to come. The country’s population is predicted to grow by 89 million between 2010 and 2050 to 401 million people. More people require more food—and...

Convenience stores are increasingly taking a larger slice out of the quick-serve pie with fresh food offerings. It’s become such a lucrative business for C-stores that Sheetz, the Pennsylvania-based C-store chain that this week opened its 500th location, is planning stores designed more as fast...

Kevin Kester’s family has been farming in the U.S. for generations. And it’s not just a couple of generations they’ve been farming; more like generations upon generations, way back to the 1600s, specifically in California since the 1860s. Today, Kester owns a 22,000-acre beef cattle ranch in...

When fast-casual chain Zoës Kitchen Inc. debuted on the New York Stock Exchange last April, the Plano, Texas–based Mediterranean-style eatery recorded its initial public offering at $87.5 million. Satisfying an investor appetite for investments within the trendy fast-casual space, Zoës’ strong...

When Lori Newcomb found out she had stage III ovarian cancer last year, she made it her mission to learn more about the disease and help other women fighting the same battle. She sat down with her husband, Chris Newcomb, cofounder and CEO of Southern quick-service chain Newk’s Eatery, and together...